Flash back to a few weeks ago:
Me: “Jayna stop jumping on Grandmas Couch. I say no and Grandma told you No.”
Jayna jumps.
Me: “Jayna, Do you want a Time out?”
Jayna: “No Mama, I want a cookie.”
Needless to say I didn’t stop laughing for quite awhile.
My big 2 year old started preschool last week. She loves school, and gets to go with the “Big kids” (3 year old class) one day a week. The teacher says she sits and follows directions and is really excited to be there. I’m so proud of her. She loves to show everyone her “work” in her school folder.
Showing off her backpack they painted in class.
Signing School. (Shes such a Smarty)
Jayna was pretty excited when a surprise package arrived today just for her. Aunt Jessica sent her lots of goodies and stickers….
Soon she had a face full of “bling” and mom helped her put on tattoos.
We love fair time. Jaysen really wanted Jayna to come with this year, so we packed 2 carriers and brought her along. The fair is just to crowded to be pushing a stroller… not to mention it sucks to get stuck behind a pack of slow moving stroller pushers….
Jayna soon realized Dad would buy her whatever she wanted. so she soon had her fill of junk food and carousel rides. We ended up staying for 7 hours, and Jayna was a good girl.
Getting there……..
Carousel rides with Daddy-
Everybody needs life-size cotton candy. Jayna was pretty happy to hang out in the leo storchenwiege and indulge in sticky goodness..
Jayna loved the John Deere Set-up, I think she would have stayed all day climbing on all the tractors.
When we were walking by the Northern Tool shop, Jayna decided to hop in a wagon to rest…
She settled with daddy carrying her in the patapum.
After corn, cotton candy, turkey legs, root beer and Hawaiian ice, Jayna was a mess. We had only packed warmer clothes so she ended up in just a shirt and babylegs.
We decided to trek on to the Trading post area to get our favorite kettle corn, and check out the old circus train cars. (Jayna currently loves choo-choo’s )
Then on to the Midway! We didn’t do any rides, but thought Jayna would like all the lights and sounds. (We thought wrong)
We had put her down to let her walk in the midway, when one of the rides made load air release noises.. Poor Nanyer was so so scared, she was crying in daddy’s shoulder, and took a few minutes before she would even peek around.
Jayna loved all the animals, and we even got to see the last part of a sheep birth in the Miracle of Life building… She LOVED the cows and their small calves.
We went to the all you can drink milk booth, and Jayna was a fan. In this pic you can see the milk dripping down her chin. She is so funny. when ever they would ask her what kind of milk she wanted she would state very matter-of-factly. “Cow Milk”.
Jayna “enjoys” a giant pickle before the night is over. She really didn’t seem to like it, but kept eating it….
All in all a good fair this year. New to the fair that was good for us was a booth on Celiac and Gluten intolerance. They had Gluten free on a Stick, which was a list of vendors offering Gluten free options, as well as coupons for free Chocolate thunder from down unders from Outback… YUM!
I can hardly believe that two years ago today, I gave birth to the sweetest girl.
Jayna turned two today.
It is so bittersweet, watching this fantastic person grow. But I mourn the passing of baby as she molds into a little girl.
Happy Birthday Jayna! Mama loves you!
One of my favorite places in the world is my family cabin. We spent the end of last week there and had so much fun. Jayna LOVED it, and kept asking to go back to “water and boat”. 
The lake was really green. With 90 degree weather the algae was growing quickly, and in fact the water was bathwater warm. Icky to me, but Jayna thought it was the best place in the world.
Playing in the Lake:
Jayna told me the wet sand was “lotion” and continued to rub it all over.
I tried to clean up some of the seaweed and green… but it was a lost cause
Cutest swimmer around:
Jayna was obsessed with the speedboat. She wanted to ride it all day long. She would sign boat over and over again. When we were on the boat she didn’t want to sit still, She wanted to climb all over and kept asking to jump off into the water! She loved when we would cruise over big waves and wanted to bounce. We had to keep a hand on her at all times, she is such a daredevil.
Chilling on the boat
Daddy Driving
Jayna and Mama
Jayna is signing boat in this picture
After being in the lake, I had to hose the baby down. Being the water baby she is she didn’ t fight it! Saturday was really hot, so I decided to pull out the sprinklers and let her play to her hearts content….
And some randoms to end the trip….
A wagon ride from cousin Emily
Out to dinner with the family
Hanging out on the Porch
Independence day is one of my favorite holidays. I love to see all the people come out to watch fireworks and see the patriotism.
Now that I have a brother in the service who is set to deploy this year it held even more meaning.
Here is our celebration:
We started off by going to a family friends pool. Unfortunately it rained shortly after arriving, but not before Jayna and daddy had a swim.
The friends dog loves to swim too, and it was pretty hilarious. I know Jayna thought it was a riot.
She loves when daddy throws her high in the air. (Even though it scares grandma Jill)
We went home for a rest then to Grandma’s for a bonfire and fireworks.
Here we are all decked out in our Red, White and Blues
Jayna had her first ever S’more, made with gluten free bran crackers. Which surprisingly when covered with chocolate and marshmallow are very tasty!
Grandma was the designated roaster:
Jayna was afraid at first of the fireworks so her and daddy went in for a few minutes, but she wanted to come back out. When I asked if she wanted to watch the fireworks in a wrap she was very happy. We are wearing a natural leo storchenweige
Uncle Tom provided us with some extra imported fireworks 
and paint-ball protection
Playing with daddy after the show
And some cuddles:
Jaysen and I took Jayna to the Walker art Center in Minneapolis for a family outing on Tuesday. I really enjoyed the Picasso exhibit, but bringing an almost 2 year old to a museum isn’t the best idea. She wanted to touch everything and didn’t understand why everyone was whispering.
Here Jayna breaks for a snack..
Her favorite part were the Sculpture Gardens. The gardens are great. Its like a little oasis in the middle of the city.
The famous “Spoonbridge and Cherry” We are wearing a Carnival Beco
Walking through the garden conservatories (Miss Independent)
Jayna and Daddy chill out on Arikidea
Me and My favorite Guy
One of my favorite exhibits is the Selection from living Series. It is granite benches inscriped with truisms that are witty and sometimes dark. Here are a few of my favorites:
Time to go Home. One Happy (and dorky looking) family.
The reception was held at the Old courthouse Museaum. After dinner and toasts, there was a lot of dancing and drinks…..
First Dance as Husband and Wife
“I Can Love you like that”
Father/ Daughter Dance
“I Loved her First” Not a dry eye in the house, including my dads….
The happy Couple
Jayna loves to dance with her “Ada” (Grandpa Tom)
Jayna Dancing with her Grandma and her Great-Grandma
(Three great looking gals)
Tommy not only danced with his sister, he paid a dollar to do it!!
My Grandma with her 3 great-grandchildren
(Kentaro, Aki and Jayna)
Ryan’s colleagues decided to come and show their support
Bouquet Toss
Monica getting ready…
The Un-Wedded
A Little dance called the Electric Slide… Led by my 80-somthing Grandpa…
A Little rest for the dancing queens
Garter toss
(Notice Ryans partner in the backround with the camera phone… Think that went around the station a few times? )
Getting down to a little Cotton Eyed Joe
Jayna the cuddler
My Brother Tom and I performing the dorkiest Shopping cart dance in the world…
(We looked like idiots but people laughed until they cried. )
Everyone loves my dad’s hat..
My two greatest loves and I take it slow….
Jayna doing what she does best… Making us laugh
Daddy’s girl
The Ceremony was held at the Tuthill Gardens. It was perfect weather and a beautiful day. The ceremony was short and sweet, and only interrupted a few times by toddlers. After Monica and Ryan recieved their guests we got into a limo and had a few bottles of champagne before hitting the reception.
My New Brother in Law with the Ushers. My Brother Aaron on the left, Monica’s friend Jon on the right
Jayna
Flower Girl McKenzie and Ring Bearer Seth
Look at the little flower girls running down the aisle. Jayna got to the second row and yelled out hi and waved to everyone.
The little flower girls with their daddies
The Bride
My Brother Tom and Ryan’s Cousin Jenna
Matron of Honor and Best man
My Sister and Dad
My Sister and her new in-laws
